Garment.



BATENTED JUNE 16, 1908;

' J.'G. W. RAHN.

GARMBN T. APPLIOATION FILED SBPT.14,'1905.

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WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS co.. wnsnn yaiun, v. c.

UNITED snares ra'rnn onnicn.

JOSEPH O. W. RAHN, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK.

GARMENT.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH C. RAHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmg.

My invention relates to certain improvements in garments, and I declare that the following is a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof, sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which like letters and numerals refer to like parts throughout.

The drawings show portions of drawers for mens wear and are illustrated in several forms and constructions of the various parts.

The invention consists in the manufacture of such garment, in an improved manner, with a side or hip opening to provide for different sizes or tightness of the garment, together with a flap or flaps secured to the garment at one or both edges to cover the opening in the garment together with means for gathering and securing the edges of the garment over the flap. The flap may be constructed to permit, by reason of its elasticity, considerable spacing between the edges of the plies or body portions of the garment to which it is attached, and at the same time permit these edges to be drawn closely together, the flap adjusting itself to conditions.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in Figures 1 and 2, I show a flap with an upward extension, the lower part being angular, presenting an outside and an inside view, respectively,-and means for securing the upper extended portion of the flap to the blank or body of the garment. Figs. 3 and 4, show a similar flap, the blanks being brought together and secured by diflerent means, the said means also engaging the upper edge of the flap, one corner of the flap being shown turned back in Fig. 4. Figs. 5 and 6, show a similar flap with outer and inner views, the flap being, however, provided with a pocket, and Fig. 5, showing the edge of one blank turned back, which blanks or plies may be secured when brought together by buttons or tape. Figs. 7. and 8, show a similar flap which is, however, integral with the body or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 14, 1905.

Patented June 16, 1908.

Serial No. 278,445.

blank of the garment, the blanks having extension pieces attached thereto to meet substantially in the center of the flap where they may be secured by tape or buttons or other suitable means.

Referring to the figures more in detail, I indicate by A throughout the drawings the part shown of the forward blank or portion of the garment, and by B the rear portion. These may be integral or separate according to economy and convenience in manufacture, being provided with a slit or opening extending down from the waistline as indicated by a The edges of the blanks at this open space may be brought together to a greater or less degree by a variety of means which I illustrate in the drawings. For instance a strap can be employed for this purpose. As an example I show in Fig. 1, a strap (1. extending from one member and through a buckle attached to the other member, and returned to be fastened to itself.

In Figs. 3, 4, 7, and 8, I show lacing c, which can be used for this purpose and which may also, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 8, engage the upper part of the flap to hold it in proper place so that inconvenient doubling of t e same in one place may be avoided.

It is my intention to cover by the drawings improved means for connecting the opposite edges of the blanks or of closing the slit or opening in the side of the garment and also for adjusting the extent of the closure or opening, said means engaging the flap at such place and in such manner as may be desired to hold it in suitable position.

The flap 1) extends from a point about the lower end of the slit or opening in the side of the garment upward to about the waistline. It is stitched to the body or plies of the garment, as seen in certain of the figures, along the lines 12, and 13, the extended upper end of the flap above the points 23, being loose and preferably so as to take advantage of the elasticity of the fabric.

In Figs. 2, 4, 7, and 8, lacing c is employed to draw or connect the edges of the slit in the garment and this lacing passes through the flap, engaging only a small surface thereof about at the middle of its upper end so that it has freedom to stretch or gather on either side of the fastening point.

I show that the flap may be attached to the waistband by additional means, such as buttons f on the waistband, buttonholes being provided in the flap for engagement therewith. These buttons may be arranged in series as indicated in certain of the figures. The edges of the upper extended portion of the flap, as indicated in these figures, may be stitched thereto, the upper edge being unhemmed or unbound so as to utilize all of the elasticity of the fabric.

As indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, a pocket flap E may be attached to the fiap D, and this may also be done in the case of the flap of any size or form. A button may be used to close the pocket of the ila as f in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 7 and 8, show a somewhat modified construction. The flap is there formed integral with the blank which forms the body portion of the garment. The blank is cut down the lines 4 and 5 on each side, thereby forming the flap D. The blanks A and B are extended by the plies A and B to form the flaps which are attached to the body of the garment where cut on the lines 4 and 5, and in Fig. 7 are shown in dotted lines. The fabric at the lower ends of the cuts can be suitably stayed to prevent tearing or slitting. It will be seen also that the flap may be held in place by buttons f, at each up er corner, and be held by lacing c or either a one.

It will be evident that where buttons f are used, as in Fig. 2, the strap connecting the blanks may be omitted and the flap may be provided with additional buttonholes f to connect the flaps and the blanks as desired.

Attention is called to the fact that the vertical opening or side slit a extends down through the waist band or waist portion of the garment and for a substantial distance along the hip portion of the garment, and that the connecting or securing means is arranged only along the waist line or to connect the ends or edges of the waist band, and that the flap arranged on the hip portion of the, garment is so confined or secured as not to interfere with the elasticity or stretching thereof below the waist band or line.

I particularly employ my invention herein described in connection with'knitted underwear, and the arrangement is such that the contraction or shortening of the garment along the waist line by drawing together the ends or edges of the waist band at the vertical openings or slits, will leave the hipportions of the garment free to expand, and in fact will not contract the garment around the hips or at the hip portion. For instance, a garment can be contracted at the waist line say to a 36 or 38 measurement, without correspondingly contracting the hip portion,

so that such garment will have a 40 measurement around the hip portions even though say to a 36 measurement at the waist. This is of material advantage in the matters of economy of material and wide {ange of adjustment for fitting at the waist Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A garment having a vertical opening through the waist band or line and along the portion below said waist band, a flap joining to the garment at the lower end of said opening and extending upwardly to cover said opening and loosely overlap both waist band ends at said opening, means detachably and adjustably securing the upper corners of the flap to said waist band ends, and adjustable connecting lacing between said ends and the upper end of said flap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH C. W. HAHN.

Witnesses:

MARY WALTER, E. T. DE GIORGI. 

